Dale caretaker manager David Hamilton new the Dr Martens side would provide tough opposition in the first round of the FA Cup.

And so it proved, despite the visitors taking a sixth-minute lead.

A rout looked on the cards when Kieron Durkan made a good run down the right flank and passed to Wayne Evans, whose cross was powerfully nodded home by Matt Doughty.

Tamworth were stunned by the early goal but, to their credit, their heads failed to drop and player-manager Gary Mills was unlucky not to equalise as he attempted to lob Matthew Gilks from 40 yards.

Dennis Bailey then hit the side netting but, at the opposite end, Rochdale should have added a second before half-time.

Durkan's 25-yard free kick just dipped over the bar before a Dave Bayliss header was punched away by goalkeeper Darren Acton.

They were made to pay for not taking their chances three minutes from half-time when a Tamworth equaliser was reward for their resilience.

Nick Colley's shot from the right hand corner of the box was blocked by Evans. Rochdale tried to clear but Darren Grocutt tackled to send the ball towards Lee Wilson, who drilled it low past Matthew Gilks.

In a tough second half, neither side carved out good goalscoring opportunities on a tricky surface. The best chances fell to Doughty on 57 minutes and Platt on 73 minutes.

But the highlight after the break was the introduction of Paul Connor, returning to first team action after a recurrence of his hamstring injury kept him sidelined since September.

Connor had a chance to steal the game in injury time but headed over from close range.

Rochdale will entertain Tamworth in the replay on 27 November, with a second round trip to Blackpool or Newport County at stake.